Head scratcher

ABSTRACT

A device is provided for scratching and massaging the scalp, and for combing and lifting depressed areas of bouffant and afro hair styles. The devices includes a manual handle and an elongated thin rigid prong adjustably mounted at one end in the handle and extending axially therefrom. A rounded scalp-engaging tip is provided on the terminal end of the prong. A removable cap is provided which is arranged to be positioned over the elongated prong and engaged with the handle to enclose the prong during non-use.

[ 1 HEAD SCRATCHER [76] Inventor: Darney George Curry, 8630 S.

Kenwood Ave., Chicago, 111. 60619 [22] Filed: Mar. 21, 1972 [2]] Appl.No.: 236,664

Primary Examiner-Lawrence W. Trapp Attorney-Carlton Hill et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A device is provided for scratching and massaging thescalp, and for combing and lifting depressed areas of U-S. Cl- 1bouffant and afro hair tyles The device includes a Int. ma ual handleand an elongated thin prong adof Search 67, justabl mounted at one endin the handle and extend- 132/9, ing axially therefrom. A roundedscalp-engaging tip is provided on the terminal end of the prong. Aremov- 1 References Cited able cap is provided which is arranged to beposi- UNITED STATES PATENTS tioned over the elongated prong and engagedwith the 1,629,967 5/1927 Rex 132/762 x handle to enclose the Prongduring non-use. 2,110,999 3/1938 Mi a 132/762 X 3,262,459 7/1966 Shfehan132/9 4 (318M514 D'awmg .50 /Z 20 24 Z5 /0 M \\\\\\|\'l\ \\\XY\\ 1 l 1C: i

\ \K A K u HEAD SCRATCHER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to a head scratcher. More particularly, it relates to a compactdevice for scratching and massaging the scalp and for combing andlifting depressed areas of bouffant and afro hair styles.

In the treatment of the scalp and grooming of hair, many devices havebeen used including very simple and inexpensive implements, and the moresophisticated and complex mechanisms. Most of these devices andmechanisms, however, are provided for either massaging the scalp orgrooming the hair. In using the mechanisms for massaging the scalp, thehair is usually disarranged or depressed in some manner. Whereas withthe devices for combing or grooming the hair, the hair is arranged in astyle as desired.

In raised hair styles which are presently very popular, namely bouffantand afro type hair styles, there is a need for massaging the scalp andfor combing depressed or disarranged areas of the hair without messingor disarranging other portions of the hair. If these hair styles aredisarranged it is difficult and timeconsuming to rearrange the hair toits original style. Generally, all of the hairdo will have to bere-combed to rearrange the hair as originally styled.

It would therefor be desirable to have a device which could be used tomassage the scalp of a person having an afro-type hair style withoutdisarranging any of the hair style. Also, it would be advantageous to beable to use this same device for combing or arranging depressed areas ofthe hair without having to re-style or re-comb the hair. Accordingly, itwould be desirable to have such a device compact enough to be carried ina purse or pocket of an individual so that it could be used wheneverneeded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The device provided by the present inventionsatisfies all of these requirements and overcomes the problems ofmassaging the scalp and grooming the depressed areas of hair of a personhaving a bouffant or afro hair style. The present compact deviceincludes a manual handle and an elongated thin rigid prong adjustablymounted at one end in the handle and extending axially therefrom. Arounded scalp-engaging tip is arranged at the terminal end of the prong,and a removable sheath is positioned over the elongated prong andengaged with the handle to enclose the prong when it is not being used.

It therefore is an object of the present invention to provide a compactdevice for massaging the scalp, and for combing depressed areas ofbouffant and afro type hair styles.

Another object of this invention is to provide a compact device forscratching the scalp of one having an afro hair style withoutdisarranging the hair.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will bereadily apparent from the following description of the preferredembodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,although variations and modifications may be effected without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates the use of the headscratching device of the present invention to massage a persons scalphaving an afro hair style; I

FIG. 2 illustrates the device shown in FIG. 1 with the sheath enclosingthe elongated prong of the device during non-use; 7

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the device shown in FIG.2, illustrating the arrangement of the sheath with the handle andelongated prong of the device; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the device shown in FIGS. 1-3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, anembodiment of the present head scratching device is shown in use ofmassaging the scalp of a person having an afro hair style. As shown, thedevice generally indicated at 10 includes a manual handle 12 and anelongated thin rigid prong 14 mounted at one end in the handle 12 andextending axially from the handle as illustrated in detail in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 2, a sheath or cap 16 is provided which is placed overthe prong l4 and is engaged with the handle 12 as illustrated in FIG. 3to enclose the prong during non-use. A clip 18 is provided on the handle12 so that the device or head scratcher 10 may be held in a pocket orthe like. The clip 18 could likewise be placed on the cap 16 to hold andcarry the device 10 in a pocket.

In FIG. 3, the arrangement of the various components of the device isillustrated. As shown, the handle 12 has an extended tapered portion 24which has an interior screw thread 20 in which prong 14 is screwed oradjustably mounted by its engaging exterior screw thread 22. As can beseen, the length or the portion of the prong 14 that is extended fromthe tapered portion 24 of the handle 12 can be adjusted to correspond tothe depth of the hair style of the individual whose scalp is beingmassaged. An exterior circumferential lip or ridge 30 is provided on theterminal end of the tapered portion 24 of the handle 12 to engage theinner circumferential shoulder 28 of the sheath 16 when the cap isplaced over the prong 14. This arrangement of the lip 30 and shoulder 28secures the cap in position over the elongated prong 14 when it is notused.

As shown in FIG. 4, the prong 14 which is adjustably mounted in thetapered portion 24 of handle 12 has a rounded scalp-engaging tip 26. Thetip is rounded in order ,to prevent any injury there may be inscratching or massaging the scalp.

In using the head scratching device 10 as described above, the elongatedprong 14 is inserted through the hair such as in an afro hair style sothat the rounded tip 26 engages the scalp. In that position, the prongcan be manipulated by the user to massage the scalp as desired withoutleaving an unsightly depression in the hair style. Also, the device canbe used as a comb to lift and repair depressed or disarranged areas ofthe hair to conform with the rest of the hair style.

The device can be made of any suitable inexpensive materials. The handle12 and cap 16 may be made of different materials but are preferably madeof the same material such as a lightweight plastic. The clip 18 placedon the handle or cap can be made of a resilient metal or a durableresilient plastic material. The elongated prong 14 should be made of arigid material such as a strong durable plastic or preferably a suitablelightweight metal.

Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in theart, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope ofthe patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably andproperly come within the scope of my invention as delined in theappended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A compact device for scratching or massaging the scalp and lifting orcombing the hair, said device comprising: a manual handle; an elongatedthin rigid prong adjustably mounted at one end in said handle andextending axially therefrom; a rounded scalp-engaging tip at the otherend of said prong; and a removable sheath positioned over said prong andengaged with said handle to enclose said prong during non-use.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said handle has an interiorscrew thread to engage the exterior screw threaded end of the prong toadjust the length of the prong to correspond to the depth of the hairstyle on the scalp being massaged.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said handle has a taperedportion which has a circumferential lip arranged to engage the innercircumferential shoulder of the enclosing sheath when positioned overthe elongated prong.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the handle and sheath consistof a lightweight plastic and the elongated prong consists of a rigidlightweight metal.

1. A compact device for scratching or massaging the scalp and lifting orcombing the hair, said device comprising: a manual handle; an elongatedthin rigid prong adjustably mounted at one end in said handle andextending axially therefrom; a rounded scalp-engaGing tip at the otherend of said prong; and a removable sheath positioned over said prong andengaged with said handle to enclose said prong during non-use.
 2. Adevice according to claim 1, wherein said handle has an interior screwthread to engage the exterior screw threaded end of the prong to adjustthe length of the prong to correspond to the depth of the hair style onthe scalp being massaged.
 3. A device according to claim 1, wherein saidhandle has a tapered portion which has a circumferential lip arranged toengage the inner circumferential shoulder of the enclosing sheath whenpositioned over the elongated prong.
 4. A device according to claim 1,wherein the handle and sheath consist of a lightweight plastic and theelongated prong consists of a rigid lightweight metal.